1974.5 260Z ATLAS build

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thanks a lot.  I added a bit more hardener and then no problem.  I will post pics later, but I put a thin coat of black primer right on the steel and then blocked it this morning.  Did the same with the sail panels.  It worked great.  I then wiped it down with rubbing alcohol and put pieces of blue tape in all the low spots that filler primer won't fill in.  I will use glaze with a hardener now.  I am well versed with it and it is so easy to work.  I just want a decent job, I don't need a show car body. when all is said and done, if the clear doesn't "pop" enough, I will wipe on a coat of glossy Poppy's patina.

 

Poppy's Patina - The Original Patina Clear Coat.

[A to Z]

I'm keeping it simple and easy to get done. not going to a mirror finish, just a factory level finish. I build drivers, Sir. I was going to use that dry guide coat until I realized you can't paint over it.....so it is ANOTHER step to get it off then put the mud when you took it off, then smooth it out then another guide coat then block. I just used black primer, mud the deepest bottoms, and use about 4-5 coats of the THICK primer filler made by duplicolor.....specially made for deep scratches. red oxide color. Not advocating any of this it's just experimentation and finding a way that works for me. 

 

It will go quick this way. Mud only where needed. when you cover the whole panel, 90% is sanded right off. Using glaze, it sands so easy, I can block it with 220 grit within about a hour and have it ready for filler primer....will it be razor straight? No....but it will look pretty nice. 

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01-03-2026. Ok so today i pulled the door handles,

locks quarter windows and main window frames. they are going to the powdercoater. i got the rear roll pan installed right where inwanted it and sealed down, later inwill put a bit of filler (glaze) around it and the rear will be done. i got the roof and sailmpaels done. it will now get filler primer and a quick look over and get all the edges etc ready for sealer and paint. very productive day! pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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01-04-2026. More time in the garage today. I got the radiator support area painted up and got the roof and sail panels coated in multiple coats of filler primer. I then went ahead and got some filler in around the top and sides of my rear roll pan, and after it was dry I got it all sanded out. I am now about 95% done with the tail. It's ready for final paint....but I need to do the cuts for the 240Z taillights and make sure the taillight panels fit the way I want them to. The filler primer made it possible to see the condition of the roof and sail panels much better, especially holding the light in one hand and looking across it. more work needed  PICS:

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01-07-2026. I got the sail panel on the drivers side painted, and the hatch jambs up to where it will change to black, the taillight surround....and the other sail panel then ran out of paint, so waiting for paint to arrive. I put filler on the spots on the doors and quarters that were still waiting to be done, and it hardened up so even though this weekend will be cold, and I can sand those down and get them done. I also painted the roll pan, and that exposed a little work needing to be done and I got some runs, so I will have some paint correction. Nevertheless, it gives a good idea what it will look like, and real progress was made in just a couple hours. you can really tell a difference in the blue before and after the clear coat! PICS.

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01-09-2026 UPDATE:  several things coming together on my 260Z ATLAS Z 4.2 project.  I picked up my fuel rail that I had modified so the hookup to my PTFE hose will be clean and how I want it, and the radiator I got back as well.  You can see the crossovers are done.....now the radiator hookups match the engine, note the reinforcement plates he welded in to support the pip runs.  I also picked up my seats from the upholsterer with the seat covers I found on eBay.  Lets see......I  picked up another batch from the powder coater, door handles, window frames and headlight frames.....which I have cleaned up and restored.  The dash center panel came in from Skillard....and it is cool that he sent a new sticker and large pic of his Z car to hang up in the garage.  Lastly, my header studs came in from Atlas Enterprises.  It is VERY COLD out today, but I will try to get out to the garage this weekend and try to get most of the sanding done so the rest of the shell can go into paint.  PICS:

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01-11-2025.  Pretty cold out today, so I stayed inside and started looking into some of my wiring questions I needed to solve.  My combo switch and adapter plate from Race Wire solutions came in the other day, and I will be using that along with the 12 circuit rewiring kit I bought some time back from JEG's.  I got Chat GPT to help me keep it straight in my mind and went about figuring out how to wire in my combo switch with what JEG'S sold me.  it will be installed in the dash, as part of the dash center plate I got form Skillard, along with 2 gauges and a cool panel/bank of switches made by Allstar Performance I ordered from Summit.  now to decide paint the4 panel or upholster.....

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01-13-2026. Just a little something to keep my motivation going. New badge and antenna delete plug from Resurrected Classics and Z Car Depot. I know, the clear looks dull, it will just need to be sanded and buffed. I'm planning on using Poppy's Patina wipe on clear in the summer God willing.

[FastFloridian]

Nice progress, looking good. You are further along than me. I picked up the race wire kit during some Black Friday deals but haven’t gotten around to installing yet. 

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01-14-2026. Prepped for more paint. I was able to get the body ready for more paint, and I will paint it, knowing I will see spots later that I can spot repair/fix if needed. this will get it to about 95% on being completely painted. Working on the body is such that you could spend a year and still find things to "fix".....and I think it's time to "push" it forward. After getting it ready for paint, I installed the radiator finger tight and the cut down radiator engine inlet I got from 42004U.com. I then grabbed the intercooler and put it in there to get some measurements for making brackets. I grabbed one of my 90's do this as well. TIME FOR MORE PAINT!

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01-15-2026.  PAINTJOB.  Ok so it is painted now.  there are a few spots I can later address and spot paint, but the major paint and bodywork is done.  PICS:

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01-19-2026 First survey of my customized stand along wiring harness for the GM Vortec 4200 / ATLAS 4.2 engine swap.  Keep in mind If I had kept the auto trans there would be more....I also deleted 90% of engine functions as well....only kept the cool stuff like gauge feeds, etc.  At least I have a wireless throttle!  enjoy the video.

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Another pic of the toggle cluster I am putting in my Atlas Z. fused and the start toggle is a momentary switch. when you flip the ignition toggle it will kill all power to the stand alone engine harness that the fuel pump runs through. I love the old school look. The quality of these toggles when you operate them you don't see often these days anymore....I got it at Summit and yep, the price is high, but the quality is A+.

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01-20-2026. Engine wiring harness. So, today I took my custom Lime-swap wiring harness for the ATLAS, and stripped off the looms and tape, so I tailor can fit everything and cut the wires down for a good, hidden fit. it's quite a bit of work removing the plastic bracket that originally held it on to the valve cover, straightening it all out, getting it all ready to be installed and then separated and cut and spliced back together correctly. I have these special splices they advertise that melt with a heat gun and solder the center.....I thought I'd try them. Some exposed wiring parts will have the chrome looms I bought over the wires, as you can see in the Injector wiring in the separate pic.

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01-21-2026 UPDATE:  I started the day vacuuming out the entire interior......A ton of bondo dust, and junk.....finally got it out.  Later I will just have to mop it out and a light vac and it will be okay.  I then installed my quarter windows, the drip rails, and the rear hatch.  Installed the inspection doors and then installed the new parking lamps I got off of eBay, the sail panel emblems, and front fender emblems.  A tad bit of clear caulk to help keep them tight against the metal like I want.  I was also able to clean out the garage, throw away a lot of stuff no longer needed, empty boxes, etc.  I set the 5 gallon fuel cell in the spare tire well for a quick look, it will be on a rack holding it up a couple inches and offset towards the driver's side to offset the weight of the battery which will be to the right of the spare tire well.  PICS: